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AR 1339 and 1338. Credit: Vladimir Knyaz
The largest sunspots since 2005 are now visible from the Earth. These huge sunspots have been slowly rotating to face the Earth since November 3, 2011. The largest of these sunspots, Sunspot AR 1339, is said to be 17 times the Earth’s width. This region of the Sun has caused massive solar flares which can trigger radio blackouts and long-lasting radiation storms. The Solar Dynamics Observatory team even called Active Region 1339 a “Bad Boy” causing a solar flare reaching X1.9 at 20:27 UTC on the 3rd.
The image above was taken by Vladimir Knyaz of Moscow, Russia on November 5, 2011. He used a William Optics Megrez 72 telescope, Coronado Solarmax 40 filter, Point Grey Research Grasshopper GRAS-14S3M camera. He also provided some image processing details: Stack of 1300 frames, image deconvolution, pseudo color.
More photos of the Sun’s active region below…
Active Region 1339 and friends on Nov. 4, 2011. Credit: César Cantu from Monterrey, Mexico, and the Chilidog Observatory
The image above is from César Cantu from Monterrey, Mexico, taken from his Chilidog Observatory on Nov. 4, 2011.
Active Regions 1339 and 1338. Credit: Theo Bakalexis
This image was taken by Theo Bakalexis on November 6, 2011. Check out more photos from his website at http://www.solar-007.eu/site/.
Image of AR1339 Sunspot coming into view from the western limb. Credit: Efrain Morales
Here is another image of Sunspot AR1339 coming into view from the western limb of the Sun. This was taken by Efrain Morales on November 2, 2011. He also provided a link to an animation having a total time span of 1hr 12min.
Efrain used a SolarMax40 Refractor, PowerMate 2.5x barlows, P/B LX200ACF 12 in. OTA, CGE mount, PGR Flea3 Ccd, Astronomik Ir filter.
Sunspot 1339 emerging from the western limb of the Sun. Credit: Hellobozos of Bad Astronomy and Universe Today Forum
Hellobozos of the Bad Astronomy and Universe Today Forum captured this image of Sunspot 1339 emerging from the west on November 2, 2011 in Orlando, Florida. He used an 8″ scope, 6mm eyepiece, Canon Eos and a Solar filter. Prime focus on 3/4 disk shot. All Avi conversions, 400 frames each.
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